I think its safe to assume that every mature aged player brought to the club is seen as a role player. Like Maric before him, Hampson was starved of opportunities and played out of position due to other players being rated higher than he at his old club. Jacobs was seen as better than Maric, so the Ivan was barely played near the end of his time at the Crows. Did this make him a poor ruckman? Hampson should be awarded the same time and delay in judgement as the Mullet was afforded as he begins his career in the yellow sash.
The Mullet came in and replaced a very weak ruck combination so automatically looked great. He embraced the positivity from our supporters, grew in confidence and became one of the best performed rucks in the league.
When Hartley was searching for a ruck to trade in he was undecided on whether we should target Maric or Hampson. He rated them both and saw them in similar situations at their respective clubs. Both offered different elements to the role but both were statistically strong and under-rated in the football community. We were able to get Maric for less and he was keener to come at that stage so that is why we traded for him first.
Hampson is not an Ablett in a tall mans body, he not a 200cm+ Dangerfield or a ruck version of Pendlebury. He is a tap ruckman who will feed our midfield and compete strongly against the other tall/athletic rucks in the competition. If you are going to judge him, judge him for his rucking. Anything else he gives us is a bonus.
